Game



E. ESTES May 26, 1936.

' GAME Filed April 4, 1933 s Sheets-Sheet 1 m nm lw h h k h r L M 5 L SQ m: m 55 n. 7 w M M N m\ \R E M/ N34 w T 3 n a a vw H. LF & N wk whm w b\ QM May 26, 1936.

E. ESTES GAME Filed April 4, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 26, 1936. E, ES 2,042,424

GAME

Filed April 4, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .iivvllllllll Patented May 26, 1936 r v 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME Ed Estes, Uvalde, Tex., assignor of one-half to Brandon Janos, Uvalde, Tex.

Application April 4, 1933', Serial No. 664,432

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-95) This invention relates to the class of games or frame guarding one of the passageways past an amusement parks and relates particularly to an apertured canvas structure;

amusement park designated a hoop ball park Figure 7 is a view in elevation of the canvas wherein a ball and bat is employed in playing a which is detachably mounted upon the frame 5 certain laid-out course. shown in Figure '6; 5

The primary object of the present invention is Figure 8 is a, view showing the group of play to provide an amusement structure having at balls used by one player; spaced intervals over a predetermined course, Figure 9 is a plan view of a bat used by a an apertured structure through which the player player;

10 must drive a ball from a predetermined point, Figure 10 is a sectional view taken subst'antial- 10 the player progressing from one apertured struclyon the line iiilfl of Figure 3. V ture to the other. Referring now more particularly to the draw- Another object of the invention is to provide ings wherein like numerals of reference indicate an. amusement park in the form of a number of corresponding parts throughout the several connected alleys which are completely enclosed views, it will be seen upon reference to Figure 1 15 by wire netting or other suitable covering,'wherethat the amusement or hoop ball park embodyby a player or players may play through from ing the present invention comprises two alleyone end of the alley to the other conveniently ways which are indicated by the numerals l and and without having the play ball deviate from 2; These alleyways are preferably laid-off in the laid-out course. the manner illustrated, that is, with two side runs 20 Another object of the invention is to provide and a cross connecting end run. It will, of course, in a game of the character herein set forth, a be apparent that it is not essential that this parnovel target construction whereby the same may ticular design be followed for the proper use of be readily dismantled as desired, particularly the park for there may be employed a series of when the part is out of use for any period of longitudinal runs with short connecting runs be- 25 time. tween the ends thereof where space permits and Other objects and advantages of the invention where an extra long playing area is desired; will become apparent as the description of the While there has been illustrated two runways same proceeds and the invention will be best it is also to be understood that the invention is understood froma consideration of the following not limited in any manner in this respect. It 30 detailed description taken in connection with the is preferable that two runways be employed in accompanying drawings forming part 'of this actual practice, one for the use of adults and the specification, with the understanding, however, other for the use of children. that the invention is not confined to any strict In the construction of a single run or alleyway conformity with the showing of the drawings but park there would be set up two rows of support- 35 may be changed or modified so long as such ing posts such as are indicated by the numerals changes or modifications mark no material de- 3, connected by cross top rails 4. The runway is parture from the salient features of the inventhen enclosed with wire fabric of a suitable tion as expressed in the appended claims. weight, such, for example, as ordinary poultry 40 In the drawings: wire, the same being indicated by the numeral 5. 40

Figure 1 represents diagrammatically the hoop This wire fabric is secured to the outside posts 3 ball park embodying the present invention, a and to the cross connecting rails 4 upon the inportion thereof being in top plan to illustrate ner faces thereof so that the posts and cross rails the top screen covering; will not interfere with the proper playing of the Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially game. 45 upon the line 22 of Figure 1, showing one of Where a double alleyway is to be constructed,

the apertured canvas curtains removed to more such as is illustrated, the outside posts 3 are suitclearly show the supporting structure therefor; ably spaced apart and a central row of posts 6 Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially is set up and these are connected by wire fabric upon the line 33 of Figure 2; so that there is thus formed the two runways 50 Figure 4 is a sectional View taken substantially shown. upon the line 4-4 of Figure 3; While the dimensions of the alleyways may be Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of a portion varied as desired it is preferred that they be apof one of the covered areas or alleyways; proximately ten feet wide and ten feet high Figure -6 is a viewer the canvas supporting and it is also preferred that the posts upon the 55 be suitably'fixed in the ground as, for example, by being set in cement as indicated at 1, so that the structure will remain rigid, To further strengthen the structure the posts may be braced by the brace bars 8 in the manner shown in Figure 5. a

As shown, the ends of the runways are open so that free entrance thereto and exit therefrom may be had by the players. Within the runways or alleyways there are set up at spaced intervals vertical frame posts 9 which are disposed between an outer post 3 and a central post 6 or, in a single alleyway between a pair of the outer posts,

as is clearly illustrated in Figure 2. These frame posts 9 are located nearer to one of the alleyway posts than to the other, thus forming a narrow passageway Ill and each is connected with the other adjacent alleyway post by a pair of boards ll which are in spaced relation and horizontally disposed as is also illustrated in Figure 2. These boards may be referred 'to'as bounce boards, for the purpose hereinafter more fully explained. The posts 9 together with the adjacent alleyway posts with which they are connected withthe boards I l and with the overlying alleyway rail 4 and a bottom rail I 2,combine to form a target curtain supporting frame which is designated as a whole by the numeral [3. Each of these frames upon one side has the boundary 7 units thereof provided with a series of hooks or eyes which are indicated by the numeral [4, with which are connected coacting hooks or eyes carried by and secured about the edge of a target canvas [5 which is shaped to fit the frame l3 as shown in Figure 2. This target canvas [5 is provided with a target opening I6 which is reinforced by a hoop of rope or other suitable material which '18 indicated by the numeral l1 and which is secured thereto at the edge of the opening; Upon the side of each target canvas which is approached by the player there is mounted a screen or guard frame l8 before the passage [0. This frame I8 is provided with suitable elements IQ for facilitating the attachment thereto of a canvas screen 20. In the playing of the game this screen serves to prevent the play ball from passing through the passage Ill if the player fails to properly direct the same. It will be seen also,

particularly upon reference to Figure 3, that the target canvas I5 overlies the boards I l upon that side 'of the same which is approached by the player and it will thus be apparent that ,a'ball driven by the player toward the target canvas and striking just above or just ,below the opening l6, will contact with one of these boards and rebound. V

, Directly behind andspaced from eachof the frames 13 is a back stop frame 2| which is suit ably braced as indicated at 22 and which has removably mounted upon the forward side thereof the canvas back stop 23 which is located directly behind the opening I6. of the target canvas. This back stop canvas 23 is preferably colored in any suitable manner to distinguish it from the target canvas l5 and in addition the back stop frame has mounted upon the top thereof anelectric or other suitable type of light which is indicated by the numeral 24 for illuminating the forward surface of the canvas 23 so that when the game is played at night the target opening I6 of each canvas will stand out distinctly before the player's view. V

Behind each of the back stops 23 there is placed a marker- 25 before which the player stands to outside and through the center of the structure .play a ball toward the next target opening. in addition to this marker there is located in each 'of the areas between a pair of target canvases I5 a marker which is indicated by the numeral 26 and which is designated penalty marker.

As will be seen upon reference to Figure 1 the distances between the target canvases are varied and the openingsin the target canvases'arealso,

varied accordingly. For example, where the distance from one target canvas or from one battarget canvashaving a small opening and another canvas is indicated in dotted lines and shown as having a larger opening.

Each player upon starting the present game is equipped with a bat of the type shown in Figure 9 and indicated generally by the numeral 21, and

five play balls such as is shown in Figure 8 and which are indicated by the numerals 28. bat 2'! is preferably constructed of hard rubber and the play balls 28 are formed of sponge rubber and each has a distinctive color marking and a white area bearing an identifying character.

In playing the game the. player starts at .the first of the markers 25. Each player plays all five balls at each hoop and is permitted one stroke at each ball. The balls numbered one, two and three are known as score balls and each counts according to its number. The ball marked A which is preferably maroon colored is known as the record ball and the other ball which is red, white and blue in color is known as the prize ball. At any time that any one of the balls is missed or fails to go through the hoop or'bounces back behind the penalty marker 26 the player is penalto off-set all of the bounce balls at each hoop. If

the hoop is made with the record ball it clears the record of all bounce balls at that hoop and if there areno bounce balls it is played to count above par score and tountie a tie score.

The red, white and blue ball is played at each hoop and counts the same as the high score ball at that hoop. If no score ls-made it is played hoop stands out to itself and must be made to count. If made with the prize ball the count is five, and if in the hole up to number thirteen hoop all back record is cleared up, giving you a five score .count to your credit. If prize ball scores at number twelve'the count is carried over to number fourteen, if thereare no score balls made at number twelve. No credit is carried to or from number thirteen, with the prize ball as atother hoops. The letters on the balls are for the players to distinguish their balls.

, Players may play in twosomes, threesomes, or foursomes, or in case of large teams they may pass through in grouped ,foursomes, each player having all balls of the same letter. The total high score of the score balls, number one, two and three is always counted the winner.

V and if made'the score will count the same as the I Par score-When all'score balls number one, two and three, and red, white and blue balls are made through the hoop the par score is nine for all hoops except number thirteen. The score balls number one, two and three, at number thirteen are the same as at all other hoops, and the red, white and blue ball count is five at number thirteen hoop, making par score at number thirteen, eleven, making a total par score 200, and the record ball counts one at each hoop made, making twenty-two above par. That is all that can be made.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for playing a game of the character described with a ball and bat, comprising an enclosed alleyway, a plurality of partitionlike structures disposed at spaced intervals along said alleyway and extending transversely thereof from one side to and terminating short of the other side whereby to provide passages therepast, each of said structures having an opening constituting a target toward which a ball is batted by a player, a guard partition extending from the other side of the alleyway and disposed forwardly of each of said passages and transversely of the alley-way to prevent a driven ball passing through the passage, a position indicator at the rear of each of said first partitions from which a player bats the ball to the next target opening, a back stop structure disposed rearwardly of each of said first mentioned partitions to limit the flight of a ball passing through the opening of the adjacent partition, and illuminating means upon each of said back stops disposed to illuminate the forward face of the same whereby the aperture in the adjacent partition will be clearly distinguished for a player facing the same.

2. In apparatus for playing a game of the character described with a bat and ball, including an enclosed alleyway having an entrance and an exit, a partition-like frame disposed in the alleyway and extending transversely thereof, a body of flexible material secured to said frame and having an aperture constituting a target toward which a ball is driven, a board extending across the frame in back of and in contact with said body of material and in relatively close proximity to said aperture, said board constituting a reinforcing for the flexible material against which a mis-directed ball may strike, and means disposed in the alleyway in advance of said body of material constituting a penalty marker for a ball rebounding from said board.

ED ESTES. 

